The Globe. Wednesday, October 30, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1468, 30 October 1878, Page 2

The Globe. Wednesday, October 30, 1878.

At a meeting of the Diocesan Synod tbe other night, an interesting discussion took placo on the motion of Mr. W. 0. Walker—" That, in the opinion of this Synod, it is desirable, as a general rule, that all candidates for priests' orders should have taken their degree of Bachelor of Arts, in tho University of New Zealand or other University." The subject seems to have been dealt with in a tolerably comprehensive manner by both clergy and laity, who gave a very fair exposition of the opinions held by each section of the body they represent. The mere introduction of the resolution shows pretty clearly that the time is approaching when more attention must be given to the selection of those who, by virtue of their training and their office, are supposed to bo, and who should bo able, to take the veiy first places in the congregations to whose sprit," al wants they administer. In furtherance of this object it does not seem unreasonable to expect that seise standard may be adopted by which, without presumption, tho candidates for our pulpits may b,a tested. The method now proposed is not of «t yiolont nature, and it is to be hoped that the gentlemen who have had tho courage to face a tremble long felt will not only avail themselves of the opportunity to re-introduce tho matter again, but that they aud others, who will surely follow in their wako, will not in time to come relinquish the efforts that in this direction can only result in public benefit. There is nothing Fetish about religious education,. Tho mere study of theology does not bestow a vocation for tho Church, oven on those who exhibit tho highest abilities in other branches of knowledge. Ordination does not mean transfiguration; Protestants have been taught that by bitter experience. They know that tho most persuasive eloquence—tie most wonderful manipulatips o* lQgis>-4oe& not always fo band

in hand with sincere piety and thorough devotion to the sacred work undertaken by their possessors, and it is equally true that a minister may he filled with all the necessary virtues, and yet be painful to listen to as a preacher, inapt or incapablo as a teacher, and unfitted for the discharge of the commonest duties of his profession. The work of the priest is chielly in the pulpit; from thence lie wields a power as high as any that can bo hold hy mortal, and it is not going too far to say that, a preacher not possessed of learning and refinement as well as of earnestness of purpose, is no more fit to be in a pulpit than is a tinker to wear a barrister's wig. It would be unreasonable to expect from the clerical profession any greater average ability than is to be met with outside the Church, but at least wo may hope some day to have a majority in practice who will have other recommendations than those evinced by the relative merits of their intonation. To obtain this some such measure as that proposed by Mr. Walker is absolutely necessary, and as leading on to some still more decided effort may be accepted, without fear for the consequeaces, by both clergy and laity.